Nick

There is no point in signing a MEDIOCRE FREE AGENT TO tie up our payroll for 4-5 years. GO BIG or do something similar to Moreland deal. If we don't win the World Series, DD will go get a big fish, no matter what young players it may cost. I'm not sure if he's in love with remaining prospects other than Groome.

I think it's difficult to quantify "games lost" unless it happens in last at bat as an example. Making a stupid running mistake in 2nd inning becomes an afterthought. It maybe that it was a factor but the team still had 7 innings to overcome the dumb play. No so much last at bat.

I don't think motivation is a factor. Hell, they're in a middle of pennant race. Now if I'm playing for the Giants, it maybe tougher to get to the ball park. Baseball is not football. You can't suddenly hit because you're fired up. Emotions only take you so far. Baseball is a skilled game. You are what you hit. Just have a look at Pablo. He's in the middle of 0-38 streak. Thank you Ben. Oh what we could do with that $19M.

Cot's Baseball has Sox having $51M to spend for 2018 BEFORE accounting for arbitration eligible players. Total 2017 arbitration payroll was $30M, thus leaving Sox with $21M under the cap before the raises. My guess is $21M will not cover the increases, especially in view of someone like Betts getting into his first arbitration year. Moon has often spoken about blowing past the first tier of 'penalty' phase of $20M as a given. Despite going past $217M, I only see us having enough money to sign one quality FA. (Oh what we can do with $40M that we are paying Hanley and Pablo for next two years, thanks again, Ben) We may again have to mortgage our young players (ie Top 5 prospects) to acquire a top talent.

Lets' be real. Hanley will be vested for 2018 unless he gets hurt. He's already playing hurt. It was a bad contract and we will have to live with it. Moon will counter by saying he also has to pass a physical. It just sends a bad vibe throughout the league if we don't pay Hanley on 'technicality'. He's accumulated 512 plate appearances to date. He needs 1050 over two years or 538 to go. Are we now praying for Hanley to be hurt? Really? I guess we can sign a DH and platoon him and play him only against left handers. Would players union have something to say about that? Aren't we breaking the spirit of the contract?

I think DD will go big somehow UNLESS WE WIN THE WORLD SERIES. Then he may do nothing more than to add smaller pieces. He may be patient in the winter and make a big move at trading deadline.

And if you recall, this was DD's plan all along to compensate for loss of David Ortiz. Strengthen the pitching staff even more by acquiring Sale and Thornburg. And this was due in part to self imposed financial constraint resetting the penalty rate to zero. Scary thing is it could have been even better had Porcello come closer to 2016 level and had Price remained healthy (but Fister/Price duo has produced adequate numbers). No one expected Betts to replicate his 2016 season but the fall has been much steeper.

As one gets closer to death, you gamble little bit more.

I don't like our offensive make up. All of you complain about lack of power yet you don't want to do anything about it. You take drastic steps. Just as we did with Price, Pom and Sale on starters and Kimbrel as a closer. Quit wasting time on fringe power hitters. Votto and Stanton are you power hitters. We are resetting the penalty rate for 2018. Make an offer they can't refuse. Mark my word. DD will go big this winter. Move past Betts. Why in the hell would you give him $100M after the season he just had? See what his arbitration value comes in at. Maybe Boston bowling alleys are inadequate.

I would trade Betts, Xander and E Rod for Stanton.

Every pitch is a homer possibility for Porcello right now. You just hope bases are empty.

Hopefully 'managing' will not be the deciding factor. It's player's game. At some point, guys on the field have to perform.

Holt sucks.

Why in the world would you play a singles hitter at 3B? If Xander is not our SS, then trade him. We're already paying him $4.5M wit Arb 2 and 3 coming up.

Our bullpen should be fine as long as Kimbrel doesn't get hurt. We should have quality with Smith and Workman. Someone else will emerge to go with Kelly, Barnes, Hembree, etc. I wouldn't give up on Stanton.

Can you do this by positions? I'm curious at C, LF, 3B, 1B and DH in particular. SS, 2B, CF and RF probably are covered by Xander, Pedey, JBJ, and Betts.

When you lose fifty hands at a black jack table, it's time to move to another table. I've been very supportive of DD but this is f***ING NUTS. I hope we get shut out from now on. Things changed when we brought in Devers and Nunez. Sorry DD. You will be holding your dick waiting for Young, Xander and Betts to come out of slump.

In light of how poorly this team was doing before this stretch, I guess it's not so unreal. Personally, I've been expecting this team to bust out any minute now for months and months. I think that is what shocks me. We seem to be getting worse. I realize my expectations might have been bloated, but this is pretty bad what we are seeing now. We overvalued Betts and Xander. We were ready to commit $55M to these two one hit wonders. DD will make another big splash this off season, and he needs to.

this......

ntn

Apparently Sox has no plans to bring up Bryce. What a bunch of f***ing idiots. This is similar to Devers. Just give the guy few at bats. WHAT THE f*** IS THE DOWNSIDE? Our offense might stall for one game? He hits 31 home runs. WHY THE f*** KEEP HIM AND WASTE A ROSTER SPOT. Promote a younger guy. What a bunch of f***ing idiots. I hope they lose every f***ing game. What a bunch of morons.

He's not up the middle infielder. 2B is much different than 3B.

Carson Smith was expected to be activated by the Red Sox on Monday. It's unclear if he'll be activated now though after being struck in the leg with a line drive during his final rehab outing for Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday. He left the game immediately but he did walk off the field. Sometime Universe is against you......

I just don't like the make up of this team. It's not balanced. It's good to have speed only if they can get on base. That's not what's happening. Also, small does not mean fast. Pedroia is one of the worst runners in majors. He got no speed. There was a time he was quick, but he's never been a speed guy. This is why I wouldn't fall in love with our team right now. The mix is all wrong. We solved one problem with call up of Devers. Unfortunately we're stuck with Hanley for two more years, getting one of worst production out of DH spot in the league. (and for a guy playing in hitter's park). We got what we paid for at 1B. Another hitting position that has not produced much offense. We need to come to terms with Dustin at 2B. He is going to spend more and more time on DL. His body won't withstand rigors of 162 games, especially not the way he plays. He does not possess elite body. He can't abuse it 162 times a year. He just can't. Our SS position is a mess. His playing time is only justified by his offensive output. If he can't hit, then we need to get a better glove. He will never be a good defensive shortstop. You either got it or you don't. Our catching tandem is just fine. They will not be the reason we lose. Beni is fine only because he's a rookie. Again, I look at LF as power position, a la Manny Ramirez. He's a cheap option. JBJ to me is our best outfielder. CF should be an elite defensive position and we have an elite defender with some power and speed. Not sure where Betts norm is right now, is it this year or last? To me, he would be a very good center fielder. But I'd like to see my right fielder hit little more. (thus I would not be opposed to Betts and Xander as center piece for trade for Stanton) Yeah we're in first place. But this is not a good offensive team. Thus it's a team that's had success mainly due to pitching. This is why you don't ever pass up on acquiring an ace. Sox would have been dead in water had it not been for Sale trade.

Why would you pay $25-$30M for a singles hitter? This team needs power. Only game we won vs Yankees was due to 3 home runs accounting for all 4 runs. It's one thing to have 5 or 6 .300 hitters in the lineup to string together base hits. But we don't even have that.